Obama Blagojevich Connection Attempted And Failed On "Hannity And Colmes"

Media Matters' Jamison Foser makes note of an emerging press conceit to be on the lookout for -- Blagojevich stories that seem to raise the specter of President-Elect Barack Obama being "implicated in the scandal, followed by concessions that he, you know...isn't."*

Ironically, on last night's Hannity & Colmes, the opposite occurred. On four separate occasions, it was mentioned that the raft of legal documents contained material that was "exculpatory" to Obama. Sean Hannity made mention of it, early in the show:

HANNITY: But for all of the Obama supporters out there that say Sean Hannity never gives the President-elect a break, there is exculpatory information in here that I think helps Barack Obama a ton. And let me tell you what it is. When the Governor Blagojevich says they're not willing to give me, and he was talking specifically about Obama, anything except appreciation [for giving his preferred Senate candidate the vacated seat], I would think that that works very favorably for the President-elect. The thing that works against him is what Blagojevich said the day before where, quote, "he would work with the Service Employees International Union," they'd work out a deal that would benefit Blagojevich, and that, quote, something favorable would go to the union from the President-elect in the future.

Now, of course, Hannity's second point depends on a Barack Obama who, having spurned a shady quid pro quo in the first place, would be willing to keep a shady promise to someone else at a later date. This does not seem like plausible human behavior to me, but hey, it's not like the White House has been some Temple to Plausible Human Behavior lately. The salient point is this: as far as any ongoing corruption is concerned, what Fitzgerald has put out there more or less indicates that Obama wasn't willing to participate in anything out of bounds.

Like I said, the exculpatory nature of the taped conversations came up numerous times throughout the show. Like, say, during a conversation with Mike Huckabee.

HANNITY: Obama had "Candidate 1" that he wanted, and if anything, the Governor's frustration was that Obama wouldn't give him anything. I think that's fairly exculpatory for him. On the other hand what I was talking about with Karl was that there would be favors in the future by the President-elect. So there's a lot of unanswered questions in my mind.

HUCKABEE: I think the greater issue is that the corruptible person is the Governor, I do not see that Barack Obama would be stupid enough to even worry with it.

You see how "favors" that haven't transpired yet have suddenly become done deals? And how even Mike Huckabee is feeling me, where "plausible human behavior" is concerned? Well, this must have really agitated the poisonous egg yolk inside Hannity's skull, because after a brief fusillade of complaining about Bill Ayers, Hannity returned to the topic at hand with this bit of nonsense:

HANNITY: I wonder if we're starting to see what we suspected of Barack Obama. I think the Tony Rezko issue is going to be a big problem for him. Especially since he's all over this document. The word President-elect is mentioned 44 times.

OH NOES! The word "President-elect" is in the documentation how many times? Well, that's certain damnation, isn't it? My God! What role did VERBS play in this corruption? Precisely how many definite and indefinite articles were involved? Tune in tonight, when Hannity & Colmes hashes it all out with the Fox News Forensic Grammarian!

*This is something many might say I'm guilty of myself, after yesterday's post in which I mused that the rumors that Obama and his transition team may have been aware of the ongoing investigation before his appearance on "Meet the Press" turned a throwaway line during that interview into a moment of added heat. Many of you felt I was taking a step too far and implying something beyond. I wasn't, 'twas just a musing on that interview moment, but I can see why I left that impression and regret that I was insufficiently clear.

Comments

[MCpiano]

Why all of a sudden do you want people to look at the facts as known and give Obama a pass, when during the Fitzgerald­/Plame/Lib­by thing, everyone here wanted to connect the wrongdoing to Rove, Cheney, and Bush, even though Armitage was a the Plame name leaker?

I am in wait-and-see mode. I am sure some damning relevations will arise as we go forward with Blago and Rezko in regards to Obama. He hasn't even stepped into office and already has a major scandal for us to deal with.

[scnilajo6]

ooooh...This is a huge scandal.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe Obama and crew were helping out Fitzgerald or tipped him off to the entire thing?

Wait-and-see mode...I think not

[cheforacle]

FYI, Rezko was tried and convicted and Obama's name never came up at this trial. The facts, as we know them now indicate that not only was Obama not involved but he refused to play ball. To assume that, because Obama and Blago are from the same state is insufficient to establish a connection. as for Libby and Plame, the fact that Armitage may have independently leaked her name before Libby did, does not mean that a subsequent leak did not happen and was not illegal. Two independent leaks that occur can each be criminal, one criminal or one not depending on the intent of the leaker. FYI, Libby was convicted of Obstruction so he had his day in court. While hundreds of unconsidered applications for pardons or commutations were pending in the White House, Bush, without a formal request, commuted Libby' s sentence so he would not have to serve time. Can you offer any reason why he would do that other than to protect Cheney and himself from Libby making any disclosures that could be hurtful to them politically?

[MCpiano]

Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, not leaking Plame's name as a covert agent. Why? The trial was about this issue--the leak of Plame's name.

It is already known that Obama had a shady deal with Rezko on the purchase of his house. So Obama is definitely tied to Rezko, and Rezko to Blago. So let's see where this goes.

[takephive]

wait and see would imply that you WAIT and SEE, not lay blame.

[Dupree]

Since when is another person responsible for the actions of others? It is a standard that NONE Of us would be able to adhere to and that includes the very news commentators that are so willing to put the spot light on Obama than the governor who was arrested. It is upsurbed and they need to be bombarded with letters from the American people to let them know that we are interested in how Obama is going to elect to certain offices in his transition...what is their plan concerning getting this economy back on track, how can we generate more jobs, how can we end the wars on both fronts, how can we stop crime in the streets, and how can we make healthcare more affordable for the citizens of this country. This is what we .....the thinking Americans ...are concern about. If I want to look at a soap opera...I have several to choose from...if I want to read tabloids...I can pick one up at the local drug store...when I turn on the news...I expect to informed in an objective and professional manner. It is time for the media to rise up and project the image of their former selves for now they are nothing but a puny skeleton of the professionalism their predecessor were.

[MCpiano]

Either Obama is somehow involved in this Blagojevich scandal or he is not. Time will tell. Any other issues Obama is planning on working on is irrelevant to the this scandal.

As far as Obama getting the economy "back on track", I don't think his plan to raise taxes, cut capital gains tax, and his massive proposals for universal health care are going to be getting the economy back on track any time soon.

[ohioan73]

Hannity: "...So there's a lot of unanswered questions in my mind."

Don't answer the voices in your head, Hannity. Its just the right wing talk radio antennae the sore-loser-GOPs implanted in your brain when you were a child.

[CeeLee]

Classic, bullethead doughboys, Hannity, and MSNBC's Matthews and Todd, would be SCREAMING bloody murder if "their own" GEORGE BUSH - currently - had been called a M__ther F___er, by a foul mouth Governor of Illinois or ANY STATE,. Yet all these "boys" can do is attempt to smear and use innuendo about President-Elect Obama and included in for measure, Jesse Jackson Jr. What a surprise! They still try to marginalize the African American male, EVEN IF HE IS THE PRESIDENT ELECT of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and a STATE SENATOR.

They like FOX, DRUDGE and DICK morris, are foaming at the mouth to try to cloak their bigotry with "going after the story" news blurbs. DISGUSTING cable news desk cowards who out on their own couldn't have achieved what these men have done.

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

More pertinent than damage control would be Blago appointing someone good and facing down the moralists with a redemptive act. I have an idea. http://stephencrose.wordpress.com

[urfree2speak]

Who did Hannity "cut his teeth on"?or grow up with? I am with the previous post that there is something very wrong with the "unnatural "fixation" that Hannity has with Obama...I mean this can't be healthy.

[delta queen]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I often look at pictures of Hannity and Blag. and get the two confused.

[urfree2speak]

It is worth noting that nobody is stating the obvious, the fox cable channel is feeding the kool aid to at least half of the country. what I wonder is how can there really be fair and balanced time on televison and radio....

[ProfessorDuh]

I wonder. Will Fox News make an error and put an (R) behind the Illinois governor's name? They so often make the opposite "mistake" when a Republican congressman is caught chasing teenage boys or something.

[lawyerboyd]

Since I'vre already slapped Jason around (and I really like him - or at least his writing most of the time) for his mushy, David Ignatious like use of "more or less" - which really is lame - here's all that really matters: the "Hannity" people will always be the "Hannity" people and that's just the way it is, so it's really not important at all to anything.

As far as the fence sitters - and by that I mean the real people in this country who are hurting and looking to new leadership for answers, help and at least enough empathy and brains to try to do a good job for the country as a whole.

To that end, O'Bama has enornous good will right now - the rest is inside baseball. But, as I mentioned in a previous post here, the O'Bama team (and I hold him responsible) didn't handle this very well at all. He's having a press conference today and they've had several days now to figure out what they've should've known from the get go - tell the truth, and not in a 'drip drip' way. Set the narrative on this matter and let us know publicly and clearly exactly what his communications were and as he's done in other sticky times like these, use his skills to broaden this incident into an oratory about this sort of behavior.

[minordomo]

"He's having a press conference today and they've had several days now to figure out what they've should've known from the get go - tell the truth, and not in a 'drip drip' way. Set the narrative on this matter and let us know publicly and clearly exactly what his communications were and as he's done in other sticky times like these, use his skills to broaden this incident into an oratory about this sort of behavior."

Um, Blago was arrested the day before yesterday. Patrick Fitzgerald noted at the time that Obama was not included in the allegations in any way. Yesterday Obama made his first public comments on the matter, pointing out among other things that there were no allegations that he was involved in anyway in Blago's shenanigans.

Obama is only being thorough. He's not going to make any statement without figuring out if there is anything questionable that any member of his team might have done or said. For that kind of thoroughness, I think it's wise to not start getting impatient after a mere two days.

If Obama wants to open this into a broader oratory, then he has an opening to do so, but that, too, will take time. If there's anything Obama has shown us in his transition and campaign so far, it's that he goes about things in a measured way, and that he doesn't let the hysterics of the daily news cycle distract him from the bigger picture.

[mec57]

What so many seem to forget is Fitzgerald is saying Obama is not involved in this situation at this time...no door is closed yet...any other reading is pure wishful thinking on Obama apologist's and a media infatuated with his every move's part.

[XME]

Yes, he's not shown to be involved "at this time"...which means he is INNOCENT unless and untl proven otherwise. Folks such as yourself seem to forget that simply because you likely WANT him to be guilty of something, which is very sad.

[Digeeedad]

Earlier in the day, Hannity's "tune" was certainly different! In a conversation with Fox commentator Juan Williams and another man (name?) Hannity CONSTANTLY downplayed and ridiculed William's comments re: exculpatory information being in Obama's favor.

As is usual for Hannity... he threw Obama's "EXTENSIVE ASSOCIATIONS with Wrignt, Ayers, and Tony Rezko and others as evidence that Obama will probably be found "dirty" in the Blagojevich "scandal"!
He said that "I'm telling you ladies and gentlemen to mark my words, Obama is going to be undone ultimately by his VERY SHADY land dealings with Rezko"!

I wonder what happened in the time between his radio show and Hannity and Colmes?

This man is an out of control train waiting to wreck (something)!!!

[Academic]

I’m not privy to what went on in the formative years Hannity nor do most Americans, and considering the odiousness of this man don't really. But I'm British and know the hold of the Roman Catholic Church on many Irish people. Also, there's enough empirical data around to demonstrate that sexual abuse is rife in the Catholic Church, and Catholic Irish mothers who slavishly follow the dictates of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have very often in the past, and some still do, wilfully turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse by their partners of their own children. One such example is the case of the Belfast Catholic woman who murdered her dad and became a cause celebre in Britain for doing so not because he'd repeatedly sexually abused her from around the age of seven but because as an adult she later learned from her younger siblings that he'd also done the same to them. What's interesting here is that the mother who was prevented by her church from using contraceptive methods outside the rhythm one, which the church favours, resulting in a number of pregnancies she neither wanted nor could afford, had connived at her husband's sexual deviance, turning a blind eye to it as it took the sexual heat off her. So like Josef Fritzl and the recently convicted Brit – both Catholics – who fathered multiple kids by their own offspring, who knows what drives the avowedly sick Hannity?

Professor Dr. Stanley Collymore.

[mec57]

Obama is going to be undone ultimately by his VERY SHADY land dealings with Rezko"!

...and that is not a problem, HOW!

[cheforacle]

Because they were not illegal and Rezko has already been tried and convicted without a single mention in court of Obama. You are hanging on the slenderest of reeds. And who did kidnap Lindbergh's daughter?

[ProfessorDuh]

Even though there's no evidence against Obama, Fox News and talk radio will repeat its sly smears and innuendo about him daily for weeks, if not months, determined to create plenty of smoke to disguise the fact that there's no fire. And Obama will get a reputation for being "dirty," based on no evidence, because Americans are largely mo rons who wouldn't know a rational argument if t slapped them and think that Oprah's weight is a major new story.

[whatsthatsound]

Hannity used "exculpatory" like its his new train set. See! I know a big word!

[Dichotomy]

lol!

[jkpcguru]

Obama is the one who set up the trap to catch the turkey Blagojevich. When he called Emil Jones to get the ethics legislation passed, Obama knew the turkey would rush to cash in on Obama's senate seat. Thats a connection I can believe in!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/us/politics/10chicago.html?em

[VSamuels]

It's a matter of angles, and here the corporate press has virtually ignored the 'truth' which is that the Ethics bill pushed by Obama closes a loop hole on these sorts of financial windfalls for 'pay-to-play' activities. This alone is a plausible reason why Blago was certainly more anxious to expedite the selling of Obama's seat, knowing he had a narrow window from which he could deal it to the highest bidder. Yet, those behind the cameras aren't looking to inform and provide context to the activities of Blago alone, they need something sensational especially if such things may include the popularity of Obama to turn ratings.

The media is wholly ir-responsible today, as these anchors and pundits kick around conspiracy theories even when no evidence appears justified for them doing so, the straight news that also Blago was dis-satisfied and perhaps even angry at Obama personally leads one to conclude that Obama wasn't aiding him, but today facts which would button up this story as a rogue Governor already hugely unpopular and under investigation prior to this is avoided, to push a narrative they wish to promote.

I'm unsure what it is we are getting from the media today, but most of it is as flimsy as the made-up financial instruments of the banks and mortgage giants---when there's nothing there---simply make it up to be profitable. It shows a serial lack of ethics among other things.

[lawyerboyd]

Jason, I was one of those who thought your MTP comment implied exactly what some of us said (and you noted at the end of this piece).

I must admit, I find your halfhearted "more or less" language equally vague, leaving itself open to all sorts of interpretation. I know you're a writer. Hell, even a paid one. And I don't expect you to carry water or anything else for O'Bama. But "more or less" is like "maybe, maybe not" or "50%".

Here are some alternatives (by the way, I don't believe for a second that after having just won the Presidency, a brilliant guy like O'Bama would in any way do something as stupid as this would be, let alone as questionable): not likely, very not likely, unlikely, very unlikely, ridiculous, absurd, improbable, highly improbable.

I do think that up to this point the O'Bama team hasn't handled this very well. He needs to come out at the Press Conference later today and be open and frank and candid (does that about cover 'honest' and 'transparent') and lay out exactly what happened.

But, "more or less" - is that lazy writing, Jason, or what you really believe?